Dead Stars - Part Two (The Emaneska Series) (37 page)

‘Curses,’ he spat, wringing his hands. He tried to remember the last time he had been so nervous, so agitated. ‘Calm yourself, Malvus, dear boy,’ he told himself, whispering to the wind.

Malvus went to the edge of the Nest and looked down at his shimmering city. It was uncharacteristically quiet, for such an early hour, and for such a city as Krauslung. It was barely midnight. Despite all odds and all its training, Krauslung had managed to drink itself into a slumbering stupor. It was all thanks to the celebrations Malvus had ordered. He smiled.
If you give a man a loaf, he’ll thank you kindly. If you give a man a keg of beer, he’ll toast you to the morning light.
Malvus had given Krauslung its keg, its excuse. He had climbed even deeper into their hearts. He thoroughly intended to stay there.

Malvus drummed his manicured nails on the marble railing and hummed something tuneless. His new boots tapped a rhythm. He took a deep breath, and that’s when he smelled it. Sulphur. Soil. Burning stone. Cooking meat.

Malvus looked down and forced himself to swallow. Tendrils of black smoke were curling around his arms and fingers. Pasting a brave smile on his face, he turned slowly to face the creatures.

He had heard the stories of the battle on the field, and now he saw the stories were true. The daemons, although no taller than seven feet tall, eight maybe, were huge in every other sense of the word. Their mere presence bore down on Malvus like the blunt fist of a hammer. The smoky darkness spread out behind them was so deep it made his eyes ache. One of them was grinning at him, rather disturbingly. ‘Gentlemen,’ he bravely began, unable to hide the little waver in his voice. ‘I bid you most welcome.’

The two daemons looked at each other. ‘I have never been referred to as a man,’ said one.

‘Nor gentle, for that matter, brother,’ chuckled the other.

Malvus cursed this most immediate of slip-ups. He stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and dropped to one knee. ‘My apologies, lords.’

‘That is better, mortal. It took your Siren counterpart considerably longer.’

‘I imagine Lord Saker finds it difficult to bow to anyone, even to powerful beings such as yourselves.’

‘Flattery too, Hokus. We are being spoilt.’

‘Rise, Malvus Barkhart,’ the one called Hokus ordered. Malvus quickly did as he was told. He had already figured these creatures out.
Treat them like kings, that was the trick
, he told himself.
Treat them like emperors, so long as they believed you.

The grinning daemon stepped forward to run his hands over the marble trees that formed the Nest, empty as it was without its gryphon. Wherever his fingers graced the stone, thick black soot-smears appeared. As his brother slowly painted the white trees black, the other daemon questioned Malvus.

‘You summoned us.’

‘Yes. Saker informed me of your presence.’

‘And are we to assume it is for the same reason as Saker?’

‘That depends on what that reason was.’

‘Are the two of you not in league with each other?’

‘We are, in a fashion.’

‘Explain yourself, worm.’

Malvus gestured to the city behind and below him. ‘This is now my domain. Nelska is now his. We have been plotting our moves together for many years, but our goals have always been separate. I have no interest in that frozen rock he calls home.’

‘He insists that you do share a goal.’

Malvus nodded. ‘If by that he means power, then yes, we do.’

‘War,’ said the daemon behind him, his voice sounding closer and hotter than Malvus would have liked. ‘Something man and daemon can both enjoy.’

Malvus nodded again. ‘The Crumbled Empire is ours for the taking. That was, of course, until you arrived, my lords,’ he replied, raising a finger.

‘Has our presence disturbed your plans?’

Malvus decided to be bold. ‘Yes.’

The daemons laughed then. Even though their mouths glowed orange, it was a cold sound. ‘Our apologies, lordling!’ cried Hokus.

‘We would hate to inconvenience you!’ chuckled the other.

Malvus bowed his head and waited until their laughter had died. He could feel a bead of sweat on his hairline, slowly making its way down to his nose. ‘Disturbed them for the better, I hope. I saw how you fell from the sky. In that moment I felt a change in the wind. I had the Arfell scholars come and tell me the old stories of you and your kind. The city and its people may believe you gone, and a fleeting threat, but I know what power you have, and have heard what kind of a person brought you here. How much power that takes. I also know that Saker has failed in his task of stopping the Arkmage and Farden, and that they are now chasing that particular person north as we speak, where I assume more of your kind will be falling to meet them. I do believe I am on the right track?’ He paused for a moment before continuing, watching their faces. ‘I thought so. Well then, if that is the case, then I do believe it is time to choose a side. I wish to choose the winning one. You, my lords. And whatever master you speak for. I believe we can form a lucrative partnership.’

The smaller daemon rubbed his hands. ‘Ah, he seeks to profit from our falling, does he not, brother?’

Hokus nodded. ‘It would appear so, brother Valefor. And he asks for much. Saker simply asked for immunity.’

Malvus’ eyes searched the marble floor.
Curse that scaly idiot.
‘And what did you say?’

The one called Valefor put his snout in Malvus’ face. ‘We agreed. For now, that is.’

‘What was your price?’

‘We are but simple beasts, Barkhart,’ rumbled Hokus. He had crossed his arms. ‘Eradication of Towerdawn’s kind. Undivided allegiance. Obedience. Worship. Land, should we need it.’

‘I see,’ said Malvus, inwardly groaning.

‘And what is your offer, mortal?’

‘Eradication of magick in the common man. Undivided allegiance. Worship. Land, should you need it. Oh, and an Arkmage.’

Hokus and Valefor both twitched at that word. ‘An Arkmage, did you say? They are in the north, as you said,’ answered Valefor, suddenly very serious.

Malvus saw his opening and sprinted for it. ‘Only one is, lord. The other is under lock and key. As my prisoner.’

Hokus stepped forward. The cracks in his face burnt a hot yellow. ‘Which Arkmage?’

‘Durnus, the blind one,’ said Malvus. He watched as the two daemons traded a long glance. If his years as a merchant had taught him anything, it was to recognise desire when he saw it. The merchant in him rubbed his hands. ‘He is yours, if you want him. You can have him tonight, if you please. For a price.’

‘Dare you barter with us, mortal?’

‘Trade, my lords, nothing more. My gifts, for immunity and the safety of my ventures. My people.’

Valefor grinned. ‘You don’t look the benevolent leader, little man.’

‘I…’ Malvus began, but a scuffing sound interrupted him. The daemons whirled around to face the noise, claws bared and smoky wings arched. They found a tall, thin woman standing on the stairs, painted yellow by the light of their fiery glow. She was reaching out, fumbling at thin air. Her eyes were blind. Valefor slid to her side, silent as a zephyr, and held a claw mere inches from her neck.

‘Malvus?’ Jeasin called. ‘You ‘ere?’

‘I am,’ replied Malvus, watching the daemon and his razor-edged claw. ‘Stay where you are,’ he said.

‘What’s goin’ on? I ‘eard voices. And what’s that awful smell?’ Jeasin asked, looking very confused.

‘It’s the wind in the city, woman. Go back to your room.’

Jeasin crossed her arms. ‘I never ‘eard the wind talk before,’ she answered.

Malvus stamped his foot. ‘The room, whore! Back to it, before I show you what the back of my hand feels like,’ he ordered.

‘Suit yourself,’ Jeasin shrugged. Her bare toes found the lips of the stairs and she slowly retraced her cold steps back into the darkness. Valefor watched her go. ‘A blind pet,’ he chuckled, once he heard the slam of a door.

‘We mortals have our needs,’ Malvus shrugged, hiding his relief that Jeasin had escaped unharmed. She was a means to an end, true, but a pretty one. Malvus had grown to like her company, however brief and fleeting it had been in the past few days.

‘You were saying… Barkhart?’

Malvus nodded. ‘You said I don’t look like the benevolent leader,’ he said. ‘Power lies in people as much as it does in coin and swords. A king isn’t a king without his subjects.’

Hokus looked to the starry sky above. ‘No, he is not.’

Malvus knew it was time to seal his wily little deal, his future. He tried a smile. ‘Do we have a deal, then, my lords?’ he ventured, inwardly clenching. His heart beat a frantic rhythm while he waited in the silence for their answer.

Hokus looked to his brother. Malvus could tell they were trading words, silently, in the way that he knew Sirens and their dragons did. It thoroughly unnerved him. After a long and sweaty silence, Valefor winked, and thrust out a black, soot-smeared hand towards the man. ‘I believe it is customary for mortals to shake hands on the making of a deal?’ he asked.

Malvus nodded hesitantly. The hand was huge. It looked as though it were made of leather, or stone, or both. The claws that waited patiently at the end of it shone dully in the torchlight like burnt steel. He smiled politely, stalling. The daemon’s easy smile was worrying.
Just do it,
he told himself.
It’s just a hand. A daemon’s hand, but a hand nonetheless. Shake the damn thing. Claim your destiny, as the seer told you.
Malvus reached out to grasp it.

He barely noticed the pain at first, as Valefor gripped him tightly.

Burns tended to be like that.

Jeasin made sure to shut the door as loudly as she could. She felt for the wall and hugged it, hoping the darkness of the building or the shadow of the stairs would hide her. She held her breath and waited for the silence to end.

‘A blind pet,’ said one of the strange voices, deep, dangerous, and muffled by the breeze.

‘We mortals have our needs,’ said a smaller voice. Malvus. Slippery in his tone. She clenched and let her tongue weave a little curse behind them.

‘You were saying, Barkhart?’ said the other voice. Jeasin suppressed a deep shiver at the sound of it. It was a voice that almost made her glad to be blind. She didn’t have to see the sort of beast that uttered it. She knew it was hideous, unearthly. She shivered again and felt her skin crawl. She’d already heard enough. She knew what these creatures had come for.

Gentler than a spider’s touch, Jeasin felt for the handle again and stepped inside the tower. She let the door hang ajar, trading the danger of it slamming in the breeze with the risk of trying to shut it quietly. Her feet slapped the marble as she practically flew down the steps to the great hall. She was halfway through the door when the hand caught her.

‘Whoa!’ gasped the voice. A man’s voice. He was surprised, whoever he was. Jeasin wriggled like a fish in his grip.

‘Get yer ‘ands off me!’ Jeasin hissed venomously.

The hand relaxed and let her be. ‘It’s General Toskig, ma’am. My apologies. Old habits,’ said the general, bowing ever so slightly. She could hear his armour clank and the leather squeak.

‘Odd habits, if’n you ask me. Do you often go grabbin’ at ladies at night, hmm?’ Jeasin demanded.

‘Not usually ma’am. You startled me. Had I known you were Malvus’ woman…’

Jeasin wrinkled her nose, as if a bad smell had bothered it. ‘I’m nobody’s woman,’ she uttered.

Toskig nodded, feeling uncomfortable. ‘My apologies again,’ he said. ‘It’s all still a little bit confusing at the moment, isn’t it?’

‘Hmph,’ was all Jeasin could say, as she tried to move past him.

‘Where are you going?’ Toskig asked.

Jeasin jabbed a finger in the direction of the doors. ‘Our friends are in trouble.’

Toskig winced. ‘I told you the last time…’

‘I ain’t askin’ you to help, soldier. I’m askin’ you to get out of my way.’

Toskig looked as if he was going to grab her again, but instead he left his hand hovering in mid-air, unsure of itself. ‘I can’t let you…’

‘He’s going to kill ‘em, Toskig.’

Toskig clenched the dangling hand. ‘He wouldn’t dare.’

‘He’s darin’ right now. Heard it myself.’

‘That is too far,’ hissed Toskig. He found himself torn, like old parchment in greedy hands. Old loyalty clashed with new loyalty inside him.

‘Like I said, Toskig, I ain’t askin’ you to help. Jus’ to keep quiet,’ she said. ‘Seems to me you and I are in the same position.’ Toskig just nodded. Jeasin prodded him in the chest, and he slowly moved aside. ‘You ‘old your tongue. I’ll ‘old mine. Deal?’

Toskig lowered his head. He couldn’t even meet the eyes of a blind girl. ‘Deal.’

Jeasin darted for the door, hands wildly flailing in front of her. She had learnt her way around the Arkathedral pretty quickly. The Arka liked their wide corridors and their grandiose halls. Made a difference from damp stairwells and narrow alleys. Despite the slimy company, Jeasin was beginning to take a shine to this sort of lifestyle.

And that was the reason why she hated herself at that moment.
Pissing it all away again
, she told herself, as she manhandled the great doors open. The sound of her feet on the cobbles let her know how the corridor twisted and turned. It was empty, by its silence.